About the Coach
Mike Murphy
Head Coach, Men's Lacrosse
Haverford College
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA 19041
610-896-1343
m1murphy@haverford.edu
Head coach Mike Murphy came to Haverford College in August 2002 after serving as an assistant at the University of Pennsylvania for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In 2003, Murphy's first year at Haverford, the Black Squirrels tripled their win total from the previous year and were rated as the second most improved team in Division III, according to laxpower.com. In 2004, Haverford notched its first ever victory over a top-10 team with its 9-5 defeat of F & M, had its first ever national player of the week in John Michals, and recorded its best record since 1997. In 2005, the Black Squirrels, who finished in the top-30 of laxpower.com's RPI, tied the single-season record for most wins ever at Haverford and recorded the first back-to-back winning seasons since 1992 and 1993. Most recently in 2006, Murphy led Haverford to a program record for victories in a season (10), and led the team to a national ranking and a post-season appearance for the first time ever.
Murphy earned an A.B. degree in History and Political Science from Duke University in 1991 and completed his Master's degree in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. Upon graduation from Duke, he served as an assistant coach at Brown University in 1992. Murphy then spent five years as an assistant at the University of Virginia from 1993 to 1997 as the Cavaliers reached the NCAA Division I playoffs in all five seasons, made it to the Final 4 three times, and reached the national championship game in '94 and '96. Murphy spent the 1998 season assisting his alma mater, New Canaan High School, to the state finals. In 1999, Murphy assisted the New York Athletic Club team to the club national championship. A year later, Murphy was named head coach of Ridgefield High School and guided the Tigers to their first playoff birth in seven years. In 2001, Murphy served as the defensive coordinator for the University of Pennsylvania and then, in 2002, he moved over to offensive coordinator for the Quakers when they had their best season in 13 years.
As a collegiate player, he started for three years as a long stick midfielder and close defender and captained the nationally ranked Blue Devils as a senior. Murphy then played one season of club lacrosse with the Brine Lacrosse Club (1992), two seasons with Team Toyota ('96-'97), and one season with the New York Athletic Club (1998). In those four seasons as a club lacrosse player, Murphy's teams made it to the national championship game each season.
Assistant coach Brian Dougherty was named the best goalie in Major League Lacrosse in 2004, making him arguably the best goalie in the world right now. After graduating from the University of Maryland as a two-time national goalie of the year, "Doc" played for Team Toyota and was also a member of the U.S. team in the world games as well as the professional indoor league's Philadelphia Wings. As a coach, "Doc" has served as an assistant for his alma mater, McDonough School in Baltimore, as well as UPenn, prior to coming to Haverford with Coach Murphy.
Assistant coach Colin Bathory '99 returns to Haverford for his second season on coach Murphy's men's lacrosse coaching staff after serving as head coach at Plano East High School in Plano, Texas for two seasons. At Plano East, Bathory reached the Div. II state semi-finals and finals and coached numerous all-state, all-district, and collegiate players. Prior to moving to Texas, Bathory spent the 2003 season as an assistant coach with Hampden-Sydney College as the Tigers reached the national quarterfinals. In 2002 Bathory coached Auburn University to a #2 USLIA national ranking and a quarterfinal berth in the National Championships. After graduating from Haverford, Bathory spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the Shipley School as they reached the state tournament for the first time in their history.